Fish tape assembly

Abstract

A fish tape drum includes a frame and a drum portion rotatable relative to the frame. The drum portion has an outer wall and an inner wall. The first tape drum also includes a length of fish tape arranged between the inner wall and the outer wall. The fish tape drum further includes a constricting assembly configured to bias the length of fish tape toward the inner wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fish tape drum comprising:
 a frame; 
 a drum portion rotatable relative to the frame, the drum portion having an outer wall and an inner wall; 
 a length of fish tape arranged between the inner wall and the outer wall; and 
 a constricting assembly configured to bias the length of fish tape toward the inner wall. 
 
     
     
       2. The fish tape drum of  claim 1 , wherein the constricting assembly includes a first inner ring and a second inner ring coupled to one another by a plurality of constant force springs. 
     
     
       3. The fish tape drum of  claim 2 , wherein the first inner ring is pivotably coupled to the frame. 
     
     
       4. The fish tape drum of  claim 3 , wherein the second inner ring is pivotably coupled to the frame. 
     
     
       5. The fish tape drum of  claim 4 , wherein the second inner ring is pivotably coupled to a coupling member that is coupled to the frame. 
     
     
       6. The fish tape drum of  claim 4 , wherein the first inner ring is pivotably coupled to the frame via a first pivot linkage. 
     
     
       7. The fish tape drum of  claim 6 , wherein the second inner ring is pivotably coupled to the frame via a second pivot linkage. 
     
     
       8. The fish tape drum of  claim 2 , wherein one of the constant force springs that is mounted on the first inner ring is wrapped around the second inner ring and coupled thereto. 
     
     
       9. The fish tape drum of  claim 8 , wherein another of the constant force springs that is mounted on the second inner ring is wrapped around the first inner ring and coupled thereto. 
     
     
       10. A fish tape assembly comprising:
 a fish tape tool including a housing defining a chamber therein; and 
 a fish tape drum configured to be received into the chamber of the housing, the fish tape drum including
 a drum portion rotatable relative to the housing, the drum portion having an outer wall and an inner wall, 
 a length of fish tape arranged between the inner wall and the outer wall, and 
 a constricting assembly configured to bias the length of fish tape toward the inner wall. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The fish tape assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the constricting assembly includes an inner ring that is configured to adjust between a large diameter configuration and a small diameter configuration. 
     
     
       12. The fish tape assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the inner ring includes a first inner ring segment, a second inner ring segment, and a spring biasing the first inner ring segment and the second inner ring segment toward the small diameter configuration. 
     
     
       13. The fish tape assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the inner ring expands toward the large diameter configuration in response to radial expansion of the fish tape. 
     
     
       14. The fish tape assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fish tape drum further includes a frame that is rotatable relative to the drum portion. 
     
     
       15. The fish tape assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the inner ring is pivotably coupled to the frame. 
     
     
       16. The fish tape assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a pivot linkage pivotably couples the inner ring to the frame. 
     
     
       17. A fish tape drum comprising:
 a drum portion having an outer wall and an inner wall radially spaced apart from the outer wall; 
 a length of fish tape arranged between the inner wall and the outer wall; and 
 a constricting assembly arranged between the inner wall and the outer wall and configured to bias the length of fish tape toward the inner wall; 
 wherein the constricting assembly includes an inner ring that is configured to adjust between a large diameter configuration and a small diameter configuration. 
 
     
     
       18. The fish tape drum of  claim 17 , further comprising a frame that is rotatable relative to the drum portion. 
     
     
       19. The fish tape drum of  claim 17 , wherein the inner ring includes a first inner ring segment, a second inner ring segment, and a spring biasing the first inner ring segment and the second inner ring segment toward the small diameter configuration. 
     
     
       20. The fish tape drum of  claim 17 , wherein the inner ring expands toward the large diameter configuration in response to radial expansion of the fish tape.